JP2858386B2 - Container transfer method - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method of transferring containers which can automatically perform a sorting operation required for testing collected blood.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As is well known, in a blood test, after a predetermined administrative process is completed at a hospital (medical care), blood is collected by a blood collection person, and the collected blood is collected by a blood collection tube or the like. After being housed in the laboratory, it is generally transferred to each testing device together with a test request form, and a predetermined blood test is performed.

[0003] In recent blood tests, the number of blood samples to be processed in a day has dramatically increased, and there is a natural limit to the processing in one illness (medicine) clinic due to labor costs and costs. Therefore, in recent years, it is the current situation that blood collected is requested to be processed by a specialized blood test center.

[0004] However, even at specialized blood test centers, the sorting of requested samples by test and the setting of test samples to test equipment are still performed manually, and some of them have been automated. At present, however, no attempt has been made to fully automate the setting from sorting to inspection equipment.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned circumstances, and has as its object to transfer a container accommodating a sample from inspection-specific sorting work to inspection equipment without any manual operation. An object of the present invention is to provide a method of transferring containers that can be automatically performed up to a set.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above object, a method for transferring a container according to the present invention comprises the steps of transporting a blood collection tube.
Blood collection tube supply and sorting unit from upstream to downstream of the transfer line
And an automatic centrifugal section and a test tube transport section in this order,
In the supply / sorting section, the barcode information attached to the blood collection tube
Is read and the operation is controlled via the transfer robot.
After determining whether the blood collection tube requires centrifugation or not and distributing the blood collection tube, the blood collection tube requiring centrifugation is transferred to the blood collection tube.
It is automatically transferred to the next automatic centrifugal section in the feed line , where it is
The blood collection tube that has been subjected to the predetermined centrifugation is then collected as described above.
Automatically to the test tube transport section via the vascular transport line
In the test tube transport section, the rubber
The stopper is automatically removed, after which the rubber stopper is removed.
Only serum from the collected blood collection tube via the decant robot mechanism
Automatically decanted into the blood collection tube and the corresponding serum tube
Thereafter, the serum tube is supplied to the fibrin test section via the supply line.
To automatically test for fibrin in the serum in the serum tube, and then separate only those sera that pass the fibrin test.
Automatically separate to other containers for each measurement item via the injection device
Note that, after that, these other containers are automatically transferred to each analysis line.

[0007]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described below in detail with reference to an embodiment shown in the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a container transfer apparatus according to this embodiment.
As shown in the figure, the blood collecting / supplying / sorting unit A, the automatic centrifugal unit B, the test tube transporting unit C, the fibrin testing unit D, and the sample dispensing / transporting unit E are configured.

The blood collection tube supply / sorting unit A, the automatic centrifugal unit B, and the test tube transportation unit C are provided with two blood collection tube transportation lines 1, 1
And a return line 2 disposed between the blood collection tube transport lines 1 and 1. The return line 2 is sequentially disposed from the upstream side to the downstream side of the transport line L composed of:

The transport lines 1 and 1 and the return line 2
Is linearly formed by, for example, an endless belt conveyor, and a weak magnetic force is applied to each of the lines 1 and 2.

As described above, by applying a weak magnetic force to each of the lines 1 and 2 and forming the rack for holding and standing the blood collection tube with an adsorbing metal, the transportation can be performed smoothly.
Of course, a stopper is provided at a position where the blood collection tube is stopped and work is performed.

In the rack for vertically holding the blood collection tube, a required number of empty racks are constantly supplied to the blood collection tube transport lines 1 and 1 via the return line 2 without interruption. It has a free-size structure so that it can be held. Of course, a rubber stopper for preventing the leakage of the stored blood is attached to the opening of the blood collection tube which is held upright on the rack.

As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the blood collection tube supply / sorting unit A includes a blood collection tube loading stacker 3 and an empty rack stacker 4 which are allocated and arranged at the beginning of the blood collection tube transport lines 1 and 1. And a barcode reader 5, a transfer robot 6, a sequence number printer 7, and a sample sorting line 8 arranged in sequence on the downstream side of the blood collection tube transport lines 1 and 1.

A rack (not shown) in which a plurality of blood collection tubes are erected, such as a test tube stand, is set in the blood collection tube loading stacker 3, and the blood collection tubes (not shown) erected in the rack are set. ) Are not shown, but are sequentially erected to empty racks supplied to the starting ends of the blood collection tube transfer lines 1 and 1 via the transfer robot R, and then the blood collection tube transfer lines 1 and 1 are set up.
1 transfers it to the transfer robot 6. Of course,
On the surface of each of the blood collection tubes, patient information relating to the specimen master is bar-coded and attached.

On the other hand, the rack from which all the blood collection tubes have been extracted is transferred to the empty rack stacker 4 by the transfer robot R.

The bar code reader 5 reads the patient information of the blood collection tube transferred by the blood collection tube transport lines 1 and 1 at a position before the transfer robot 6, and then reads the information from the host computer (not shown). And the host computer assigns a sequence number corresponding to the read patient information to the blood collection tube via the sequence number controller 9. The sequence number is a daily serial number assigned to a sample to be processed on the day in the laboratory, and the number is automatically written by a known ink jet printer. The format of this sequential number is dated
A combination of time and serial number is conceivable.

Thereafter, the blood collection tube is transferred to the transfer robot 6 by the blood collection tube transport lines 1 and 1.

The transfer robot 6 picks up, from the transferred blood collection tubes, those for a special test, those that cannot be read, and those that do not have a requested item, and picks them up for the special test stacker 10 and the unreadable stacker 11. And a transfer robot to the non-requested stacker 12, and is constituted by a pickup robot having a known mechanism capable of ascending and descending and crossing the blood collection tube transport lines 1 and 1.

In this manner, the empty rack after being transferred to each of the stackers 10, 11, and 12 corresponding to the above-described reasons is the bypass line formed immediately downstream of the transfer robot 6. After being sent to S, return line 2
Will be returned to.

Of course, blood collection tubes that do not correspond to the above-mentioned reasons are:
Sequence number printer 7 and sample sorting line 8 without being picked up by transfer robot 6
Transferred to.

The sequence number printer 7 converts the sequence number given by the sequence number controller 9 to the information paper adhered to the surface of each blood collection tube that has been transferred without being picked up by the transfer robot 6, in a numerical form. , And is constituted by, for example, a known ink jet printer. Of course, this printer mechanism may employ another known printer mechanism, and may be configured so that a paper on which a sequence number that has been digitized in advance is printed is attached to the surface of the blood collection tube. Good.

The blood collection tube to which the sequence number has been assigned in this manner is thereafter transferred to the sample sorting line 8. This is performed in order to improve inspection efficiency by giving priority to processing that takes time-consuming inspections or inspections to be collectively analyzed.

The sample sorting lines 8 are disposed on the left and right sides of each of the blood collection tube transport lines 1 and 1, respectively.
In order from the upstream side, other blood collection tube stock parts for inspection 1
3. A blood collection tube stock unit 14 for biochemical examination, a blood collection tube stock unit 15 for protein fractionation inspection, and a blood collection tube stock unit 16 for method inspection, and blood collection tubes brought in from the entrances of these stock units. Are sequentially arranged from the outlets formed downstream from the inlets of the respective stock sections.
1 to be carried out.

Therefore, the blood collection tube for which the request for the method inspection is included in the request item for the conveyed blood collection tube is carried into the application method blood collection tube stock section 16 at the most downstream side. Of course, at the start of the apparatus, since no blood collection tube has been loaded into the blood collection tube stock 16 for the method, some of the blood collection tubes of all items are straight to the automatic centrifugation unit B. Since the conveyed blood collection tube must wait until the centrifugal separation operation in the automatic centrifugal unit B is completed, the remaining blood collection tube is carried into the manual-use blood collection tube stock unit 16.

In the request items for the conveyed blood collection tubes, the blood collection tubes for which there is no request for a method test and for which a protein fractionation request has been made are stored in the other blood collection tube parts for inspection 1.
3 and is passed into the blood collection tube stock part 15 for protein fractionation inspection without passing in front of the blood collection tube stock part 14 for biochemical inspection.

Further, in the request items for the conveyed blood collection tubes, the blood collection tubes for which there is no request for the method test and the protein fractionation test and for which a biochemical test is requested are included in the other blood collection tube stocks for inspection. It is carried into the blood collection tube stock section 14 for biochemical tests without passing through the area 13.

Of course, if there is no request for a biochemical test, a protein fractionation test or a use method test in the request items for the conveyed blood collection tubes, the other collection tubes for test blood collection 13
It is carried to.

In this way, by performing sorting work to each stock section, those which require a long time for inspection can be preferentially turned to centrifugal separation processing. Each time the centrifugal separation operation in the automatic centrifugal unit B is completed, the blood collection tubes stored in the inspection blood collection tube stock unit 16 are sequentially carried out for each required number and supplied to the automatic centrifugal unit B. Blood collection tube stock 1
When 6 becomes empty, the blood collection tubes are sequentially carried out in the order of the blood collection tube stock portion 15 for protein fractionation test, the blood collection tube stock portion 14 for biochemical test, and the other blood collection tube stock portions 13 for inspection, and are automatically centrifuged. It is transported to the section B. Of course, the order in which the blood collection tubes are carried out is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and can be appropriately selected according to the needs of the facility adopting the apparatus.

The blood collection tubes carried out from the sample sorting line 8 in this manner are transported to the automatic centrifugal section B by the respective blood collection tube transport lines 1 and 1 and subjected to centrifugal separation in the automatic centrifugal section B. . In addition, each blood collection tube transport line 1, 1
A bypass line 17 is provided between the sample sorting line 8 and the automatic centrifugal unit B for connecting the two.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the automatic centrifugal section B transfers the blood collection tubes on each of the blood collection tube transport lines 1 and 1 to each of the blood collection tube transport lines 1 and 1 via the transfer robot 22. After the transfer to the rotors of the respective automatic centrifuges, which are distributed to the left and right, and the transfer operation to the rotors is completed, the rotor is rotated at a high speed to centrifuge the blood specimen contained in the blood collection tube. .

The configuration of the pair of automatic centrifuges 20 disposed in the automatic centrifugal section B is not shown, but a motor for rotating the rotor at high speed and a blood collection tube suspended at predetermined intervals on the outer periphery of the rotor. Since the other configuration and operation are exactly the same as those of a known centrifugal separator except for a holder, a detailed description thereof will be omitted here. Reference numeral 21 in the drawing denotes a dummy stocker for storing a dummy for balancing the weight of the rotor, and the dummy is transferred to the rotor via the transfer robot 23.

FIG. 4 shows another example of the configuration of the automatic centrifugal section B. The configuration of the blood collection tube transport lines 1 and 1 is changed to "self".
After transferring the blood collection tube to the rotor at the position of position a of the lines 1 and 1, the empty rack is transferred to the position b during the centrifugation process. After the centrifugal separation process is completed, the blood collection tube pulled out at the position a is returned to the same rack again.

The blood collection tubes subjected to the centrifugal separation process are returned from the rotor to the blood collection tube transport lines 1 and 1 by the transfer robot 22.
1 and is transferred to each separation tube buffer section 25 and stocked. A bypass line 18 is provided between the automatic centrifugal section B of each of the blood collection tube transport lines 1 and 1 and each of the separation tube buffer sections 25 to connect them.

Then, the blood collection tubes stocked in each separation tube buffer section 25 are returned to the blood collection tube transport lines 1 and 1 again, and transferred to the test tube transport section C.

As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 5, the test tube transport section C includes a bottle opener 30 and a bar code reader device which are arranged left and right along each of the blood collection tube transport lines 1, 1 from the upstream side. 31, a pair of parent blood collection tube stackers 32 disposed downstream of the barcode reader device 31,
A decant robot mechanism 33 for decanting only serum from the blood collection tube passing through the barcode reader device 31 to a serum tube to be described later, and a transfer robot 34 for transferring the blood collection tube after decanting to the blood collection tube stacker 32.
And is composed of In addition, each blood collection tube transport line 1,
A bypass line 19 is provided between the bottle opener 30 and the barcode reader 31 to connect them.

The stopper removal device 30 removes a rubber stopper attached to the opening of the blood collection tube from the blood collection tube. Although not shown, an arm for holding the body of the blood collection tube and a rubber plug inserted into the rubber stopper are provided. And a removal member that engages with the rubber stopper.

The barcode reader 31 reads the patient information stuck on the surface of the blood collection tube, and has the same configuration as a known barcode reader.

The blood collection tube stacker 32 transfers the blood collection tube in which only the clot has been left after the decanting operation has been completed via the transfer robot 34 and stocks it.

The decant robot mechanism 33 aspirates a required amount of the serum sample in the blood collection tube with a pipette and dispenses the aspirated serum sample into a serum tube.
A known pipette mechanism having a suction / discharge pump mechanism and a washing mechanism; and a position e, f of a supply line described later from a decant position c, d of each of the blood collection tube transport lines 1, 1 by raising and lowering the pipette. And a mechanism for transferring the blood to the serum tube set at the position. Of course, this decant robot mechanism 33 is provided with one or more pipettes to simultaneously aspirate serum samples from a plurality of blood collection tubes and simultaneously dispense them into the serum tubes, thereby improving the processing speed. It can also be done.

Each of the blood collection tube transport lines 1 and 1 merges downstream from the decant positions c and d, and an empty rack (the blood collection tube is moved to the blood collection tube stacker 32) at the merge position. Is transferred to the beginning of the blood collection tube transport lines 1 and 1 via the return line 2.

On the other hand, the serum tube transport line for transporting the serum tube into which the serum has been dispensed as described above is connected to the supply line 40.
And return line 41, which are 2
A pair of transport lines are arranged in parallel as a set of books.

A rack code reader device and a sequence number printer 4 extend from the upstream side to the downstream side of the supply line 40 of each serum tube transport line.
2, rack code reader device 43, fibrin device 4
4, an auto chip feeder device 45, a rack code reader device 46, a transfer robot 47, a rack buffer unit 48, and a serum tube auto feeder device 49 are provided, respectively, and are downstream from the serum tube auto feeder device 49 of each supply line 40. The return line 41 communicates with the end portion on the side. The symbol w in the drawing is a sequence number controller.

That is, in each of the above-mentioned serum tube transport lines, a required number of racks (not shown) for holding the serum tubes are always stocked in the return line 41, and empty racks outside these return lines 41 are provided. Are sequentially supplied to the supply line 40 without interruption, and a new serum tube is supplied by the serum tube automatic feeder device 49. The rack supply unit 50 receives the serum on the day before the holiday, and after the centrifugal separation process and the serum decanting work are completed, the serum that has been frozen and refrigerated is transferred to the serum tube on the next business day after the holiday. Used when flowing in a line. Of course, the rack number reader device 51 reads the code number of the rack holding the serum tube carried out from the rack supply unit 50, and the rack code number is automatically input to the host computer.

In the rack to which a new serum tube is supplied by the serum tube automatic feeder device 49 in this way, the code number is read again by the rack code reader device 52 at the exit of the serum tube automatic feeder device 49, and thereafter, the return is performed. After being carried out to the line 41, it is transferred to the supply line 40.

Before the serum sample is decanted, the rack number of the rack that has reached the supply line 40 is read again by the rack code reader 42, and the serum tube held in the rack is provided with a sequence number printer. A sequence number is given by 42.

The racks and serum tubes after this operation are completed
It is transferred to the decanting positions e and f by the supply line 40, where the decanting robot mechanism 33 is moved.
, The serum sample in the blood collection tube is decanted into the serum tube.

The serum tube from which the serum sample has been decanted in this manner is immediately transferred to the fibrin test section D by the supply line 40. Of course, this fibrin test D
Before reaching the position, the information of each rack is read by the rack code reader device 43, and the sample is collated.

In the fibrin test section D, a test is performed to confirm the presence or absence of fibrin, which is a cause of clogging of the pipette, and the amount of serum required for the test. The configuration of the fibrin device 44 provided in the fibrin inspection unit D is the same as that of a known device, and a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

That is, the serum sample determined to be “abnormal” by the fibrin device 44 is sent to the transfer robot 47 via the supply line 40 and then transferred to the transfer robot 47.
"Insufficient Fluid / Fibrin" Stacker 55
Transported to Of course, also in this case, the rack has the code number of the rack code reader device 4.
6 and the information is input to the host computer.

On the other hand, the serum sample judged to be “normal” by the fibrin device 44 is transferred to the dispensing positions g and h by the supply line 40, and the dispensing positions g and h
The dispensing operation of the serum sample by the two dispensing devices 60 is performed.

The dispensing device 60 includes a known pipette mechanism having a suction / discharge pump mechanism, and the automatic tip feeder device 45 for attaching a pipette tip to the tip of the pipette.
And a mechanism for moving the pipette up and down and transferring the pipette from the dispensing position g, h to the sample cup set in each test equipment line, and discarding the used pipette tip to the tip waist 56. And a mechanism. Of course, the dispensing device 60 is provided with one or more pipettes to simultaneously aspirate serum samples from a plurality of serum tubes and simultaneously dispense them into the sample cup, thereby increasing the processing speed. It can also be improved.

The serum tube whose dispensing operation has been completed in this way is sent to the transfer robot 47 via the supply line 40, and the serum sample requested to check the blood type is transferred to the blood type stacker 57. , And the rest,
It is transferred to the serum tube stacker 58. Of course, also in this case, the code number of the rack is read by the rack code reader 46, and the information is input to the host computer.

The structure and operation of the transfer robot 47 are the same as those of the transfer robot 6, and a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

As is clear from FIGS. 1 and 5, the rack buffer section 48 is formed so as to be joined at the end of each supply line 40, and the rack from which the serum tube has been extracted by the transfer robot 47. Are collected in the rack buffer unit 48 and then transferred to the serum tube auto feeder device 49.

As is clear from the above description, the serum tube auto feeder 49 sequentially supplies the washed serum tubes to the empty rack, and the structure is the same as that of a known feeder device. The detailed description is omitted here.

The serum sample aspirated by the dispensing device 60 in this manner is transferred to the sample dispensing / transporting section E.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 6, for example, the sample dispensing / transporting section E includes a method analysis line 70, a protein fraction analysis line 80, an immune serum analysis line 90, and an analysis using a microplate. It comprises a line 100 and a biochemical analysis line 110. The symbol x in the figure is
It is a sequence number controller.

The analysis line 70 is formed by a single transport line, and runs from the upstream side to the downstream side along a rack supply section 71, a rack code reader 72, a sequence number printer 73, and a rack code reader. The rack, on which the sample cups are erected and held, is carried out of the rack supply unit 71 and then placed in the sample cup at the dispensing position i. The serum sample aspirated by the dispensing device 60 is dispensed and transported to the rack storage unit 76. Of course, before each of these operations, the rack code number is read by the rack code reader devices 72, 74, and 75, and a sequence number is given to each sample cup by the sequence number printer 73.

The protein fraction analysis line 80 is formed by a single transport line, and extends from the upstream side to the downstream side in a fraction dish supply section 81 and rack code readers 82 and 8.
And three and two protein fractionation analyzers 84 and 85 and a fractionation dish storage unit 86. After the fractionation dish is carried out from the fractionation dish supply unit 81, the dispensing position j Then, the serum sample aspirated by the dispensing device 60 is dropped on the fractionation dish, and the fractionation dish is then placed in the protein fractionation analyzer 84 or 8.
5 and is conveyed to the fraction dish storage unit 86.
Of course, before each of these operations, the rack code readers 82 and 83 read the rack code numbers. Incidentally, reference numerals 87 and 88 in the figure denote rack code reader devices.

The immune serum analysis line 90 is formed by a single transport line, and runs along the upstream to downstream sides of the rack supply section 91 and the rack code reader devices 92 and 9.
The rack, which includes three or two immune serum analyzers 94 and 95 and a rack storage section 96, and in which the sample cup is erected and held, is taken out of the rack supply section 91 and then dispensed at the dispensing position. At k, the serum sample aspirated by the dispenser 60 is dispensed into the rack, and the serum sample in the sample cup is then dispensed to the immune serum analyzer 94 or 9.
After being supplied to the rack 5, it is transported to the rack storage section 96.
Of course, before each of these operations, the rack code number is read by the rack code reader devices 92 and 93. Reference numerals 97 and 98 in the figure denote rack code reader devices.

Analysis line 100 using microplate
Is formed by a single transport line, and includes a plate supply unit 101, a rack code reader device 102, 103 for reading a code number of a rack on which the plate is placed, from the upstream side to the downstream side, and two units. Microplate analyzers 104 and 105 and plate storage unit 106
After the plate is unloaded from the plate supply unit 101, the serum sample aspirated by the dispensing device 60 is dropped on the plate at the dispensing position l. After the plate is supplied to the microplate analyzer 104 or 105, the plate storage unit 1
06. Of course, before each of these operations, the rack code reader devices 102 and 103 read the rack code numbers. It should be noted that reference numerals 107, 107 in FIG.
108 is a rack code reader device.

The biochemical analysis line 110 is connected to the supply line 1
11 and a return line 112. The sample cup supply unit 113 and the rack code reader devices 114 and 11 extend from the upstream side to the downstream side of the supply line 111.
5. A plurality of biochemical analyzers 116 and a sample cup waist 118.

Therefore, after the rack holding the sample cup is unloaded from the sample cup supply unit 113, at the dispensing position m, the serum sample aspirated by the dispensing device 60 is dispensed into the sample cup. The serum sample in the sample cup is then fed to any of the biochemical analyzers 116 and then transferred by return line 112 to the sample cup waist 118 where it is fed. After only the sample cup is discarded, the sample cup supply unit 113
Transported to Of course, before each of these operations, the rack code number is read by the rack code reader devices 114 and 115. Incidentally, reference numeral 117 in the figure is a rack code reader device.

As the protein fraction analyzers 84 and 85, the immune serum analyzers 94 and 95, the microplate analyzers 104 and 105, and the biochemical analyzer 116 used in the above embodiments, various known analyzers can be applied. Can,
Further, in the present embodiment, the case where two or more analyzers of the same model are arranged side by side as an example is described, but this is because all of the transport devices are used when one of the analyzers fails. It is to solve the problem that can not be
Therefore, in order to increase the processing speed and improve the reliability of the operation of the apparatus, two or more apparatuses can be arranged side by side.

Of course, each transport line according to this embodiment includes:
A drive motor having a known configuration is provided, and drive control of each drive motor and each device is performed by a known CPU.
The processing is performed by a host computer configured as described above.

Next, the operation of the above-configured apparatus will be described.

When the present apparatus is operating normally, the blood collection tubes in which the patient's blood is stored and the rubber stoppers are inserted are held upright on the rack of the blood collection tube loading stacker 3. Each of the blood collection tubes is sequentially supplied to the starting end of the blood collection tube transfer lines 1 and 1 by the transfer robot R, and is set up on an empty rack set up on one of the blood collection tube transfer lines 1 and 1. Are sequentially transferred in the direction of the transfer robot 6 by the blood collection tube transfer lines 1 and 1.

Each of the blood collection tubes is connected to the transfer robot 6.
After removal of the items not to be inspected, those for which no test is requested, those for which barcodes cannot be read, and those that are not to be inspected, are transported to the sample sorting line 8, where they are sorted by test item on the sample sorting line 8. After that,
After being sent to the automatic centrifugal section B and subjected to centrifugal separation in the automatic centrifugal section B, it is transferred to the separation tube buffer section 25 and stocked.

Then, after the rubber stopper is removed by the stopper removal device 30, the blood collection tube is transferred again to each decant robot mechanism 33 of the test tube transport section C by the blood collection tube transport line 1, 1. Each decant robot mechanism 3
In step 3, a plurality of blood collection tubes on the corresponding blood collection tube transport lines 1 and 1 are lifted, and a serum sample is decanted from these blood collection tubes into a serum tube. On the other hand, each blood collection tube for which the decanting operation has been completed is transferred to the blood collection tube stacker 32 via the transfer robot 34.

The serum tube from which the serum sample has been decanted in this way is immediately transferred to the fibrin test section D by the supply lines 40, and the presence or absence of fibrin and the fluid volume are measured, and the result is judged to be "normal". The serum sample is transferred to the dispensing positions g and h by the supply line 40, and the two dispensers 60 aspirate the serum sample at the dispensing positions g and h. On the other hand, the serum sample determined to be “abnormal” is sent to the transfer robot 47 by the supply line 40, and then the “transfer robot 47 determines that the liquid amount is insufficient.
Fibrin present "to the stacker 55. still,
The serum tube whose dispensing operation has been completed as described above is sent to the transfer robot 47 via the supply line 40, and the serum sample requested to check the blood type is the blood type stacker 5
7 and the others are transferred to the serum tube stacker 58.

Each of the serum samples aspirated by the two dispensing devices 60 at the dispensing positions g and h is conveyed by each dispensing device 60 to the sample dispensing / transporting section E, and is set as the requested test item. Correspondingly, the sample cup of the method analysis line 70, the fractionation dish of the protein fraction analysis line 80, the sample cup of the immune serum analysis line 90, the microplate of the microplate analysis line 100 or the biochemical analysis line 1
After dispensing into 10 sample cups, they are transferred and supplied to the analyzer of each analysis line.

Next, when a failure occurs in one of the automatic centrifuges of the present apparatus, for example, the blood collection tube transport lines 1, 1
The blood collection tube being transported by the
, And is sequentially supplied to a blood collection tube transport line 1 for transferring blood collection tubes to an operating automatic centrifuge.

Further, for example, the decant robot mechanism 33
If a failure occurs in one of the blood collection tubes, the blood collection tube being conveyed by the blood collection tube transfer line 1, 1 is transferred to the operating decant robot mechanism 33 via the bypass line 18 or 19. It is sequentially supplied to the blood collection tube transport line 1 to be transferred.

Further, when a failure occurs in one of the serum tube transport lines of the present apparatus or one of the dispensing devices 60, the decant robot mechanism 33 activates one of the operating serum tube transport lines. Alternatively, the serum sample is supplied to the dispensing device 60.

Therefore, in the present apparatus, even if a failure occurs in one of the blood sample pretreatment and serum sample dispensing mechanism or the transport line, the entire apparatus does not stop working at all, and the failure does not occur. This can effectively prevent deterioration of the sample and inspection loss due to the above.

The respective bar code readers, rack code readers and sequence number printers used in the present embodiment are configured in the same manner as those known in the art, and a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

Further, in this embodiment, an example was described in which each transport line such as a blood collection tube, a serum tube, or a sample cup was formed linearly by an endless belt or the like. It is not limited, for example,
It can also be formed in a loop or meandering.

[0078]

As described above, the method of transferring a container according to the present invention comprises the steps of:
By simply setting at the beginning of the transport line, the rest can be transferred to the inspection equipment and set without any manual operation, so that this kind of work can be performed easily and accurately. To play.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory plan view schematically showing an entire configuration of an apparatus to which a container transfer method according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a partial plan view showing a configuration of a blood collection tube supply / sorting unit.

FIG. 3 is a partial plan view showing a configuration of an automatic centrifugal unit.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory plan view illustrating another configuration example of the automatic centrifugal unit.

FIG. 5 is a partial plan view showing a configuration of a test tube transport unit and a fibrin inspection unit.

FIG. 6 is a partial plan view showing a configuration of a sample dispensing / transporting unit.

[Explanation of symbols]

 A blood collection tube supply / sorting unit B automatic centrifugation unit C test tube transportation unit D fibrin testing unit E specimen dispensing / transportation unit 1 blood collection tube transportation line 70 method analysis line 80 protein fraction analysis line 90 immune serum analysis line 100 micro Plate analysis line 110 Biochemical analysis line

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. An upstream side to a downstream side of a blood collection tube transportation line.
And blood collection tube supply / sorting unit, automatic centrifugal unit, and test tube transport unit
Are sequentially arranged, and the blood collection tube supply / sorting section affixes it to the blood collection tube.
The transfer is controlled by reading the barcode information
The blood collection tube needs centrifugation through the onboard robot.
After determining and distributing the blood, the blood collection tube requiring centrifugation is transferred to the next automatic centrifugal unit on the blood collection tube transport line.
The blood collection tube that has been automatically transferred and has been subjected to a predetermined centrifugation process is then transferred to the test tube via the blood collection tube transport line.
It is automatically transported to the test tube transport section,
Automatically removes the rubber stopper through the stopper
After that, decant only serum from the blood collection tube from which the rubber stopper was removed.
Serum tube corresponding to the blood collection tube via the
After automatically decanting to
And transferred to the fibrin test section via the serum tube
After automatically examining the fibrin in the
Only the serum that passed the inspection for each measurement item via the pipetting device
Automatically dispensing to other containers, and then automatically transferring each of these other containers to each analysis line.